Wednesday, September 5, 2012

September 4, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com)
- Nicaraguan Mennonites say that they have been persecuted by
government authorities since they chose to shelter ex-lesbian Lisa
Miller and her daughter Isabella following their escape from the United
States, but add that they are willing to suffer and even die to protect
Isabella from a court-ordered custody transfer to her non-biological
lesbian “mother.”

Lisa Miller and her daughter fled the country in late 2009 in order
to avoid sharing custody of Isabella with Miller’s former homosexual
partner, Janet Jenkins, with whom she had entered into a Vermont civil
union. Jenkins is not biologically related to Isabella, who was
conceived through artificial insemination and never adopted by Jenkins.
Nonetheless, the Vermont court declared Jenkins to be Isabella’s
“mother.”

Following their breakup, Miller repented of the homosexual lifestyle
and professed faith in Christ, and began to fight the shared custody
arrangement imposed by the court. Although expert testimony was submitted as evidence that Isabella was traumatized by the visits with Jenkins, the court refused to cancel them.

In a letter published on a Mennonite website
devoted to defending Pastor Kenneth Miller (no relation to Lisa Miller)
and others involved in Lisa and Isabella’s escape, the Mennonite
“Nicaraguan Brotherhood” describes pressure and harassment from both
U.S. and Nicaraguan authorities regarding their decision to shelter the
two after their arrival in the Central American country.

Click “like” if you want to defend true marriage.
The Brotherhood says that their churches in Nicaragua have been
“questioned and pressed to give information” regarding the whereabouts
of Isabella. “Some have been questioned when going to the US embassy.
Others were interrogated in their homes.”

“Brethren and neighbors have been watched, interrogated and
threatened,” and, “In some churches Sunday morning services have been
watched and videoed,” they write. “A house of one of the brethren was
searched without a search warrant.”

“Some excommunicated brethren said that they were offered free visas,
a trip to the states, study offers and easy ways to become a police
officer if they would help find her. The policeman also suggested they
rejoin the church but work as spies for them,” write the Bretheren.

The Brotherhood says that they forgive their persecutors, but will
stand firm in the defense of Isabella, now 10 years old, who “has become
an innocent victim of an ungodly agenda.”

“Her wellbeing has not been given much or any consideration.
According to the Bible we believe that God has given Lisa sole
responsibility to care and protect her own daughter since she has no
known father.

According to the Bible it is a war between good and evil, a
battle between God and Satan. As congregations we stand united in this
spiritual warfare against evil.”

The Brotherhood add that they are willing to suffer imprisonment or death in the cause of protecting Isabella.
“The fact is that suddenly we find ourselves having to choose between
obeying God and man made laws,” they write. “We have chosen to obey
God. We are willing to give up our rights, go to jail, or even die, for
the cause of helping anyone become free from a sinful life and helping
that person to live in obedience to God’s Word.”

U.S. Mennonite pastor Kenneth Miller has already been convicted of
helping Lisa Miller and Isabella to flee the United States, and may face
up to three years in prison when he is sentenced. Jenkins has also filed a civil suit
against Kenneth Miller for unspecified monetary damages, and has
included organizations in the suit that have expressed support for
Miller. Liberty University Law School’s dean Mat Staver has characterized that complaint as an attack on freedom of speech.

The letter of the Nicaragua Brotherhood does not specify which
Nicaraguan Menonite churches are represented. Although its publication
date is given as February of this year, it appears not to have been
distributed outside of Mennonite circles. It was quoted in May in the Mennonite World Review, and was quoted in Jenkins’ lawsuit.

“How many voices in our materialist society tell us that happiness is to be found by acquiring as many possessions and luxuries as we can? But this is to make possessions into a false god. Instead of bringing life, they bring death.”- Pope Benedict XVI

"This past Wednesday I was in part of the hospital that was devoted to people who have memory problems like my father. The people here may have no idea who I am but they light up at the sight of a collar. People who cannot carry on a conversation click “on” and join in prayer as if there were little wrong with them, their faces relaxing in this moment of peace amidst the chaos of illness."- Fr. Valencheck

"The priest's life is not his own. He does not live it for himself and his personal fulfillment, but for the salvation of souls."- Fr. Richtsteig

"I am convinced that if we simply follow the liturgical books, say the texts and carry out the gestures properly, in a style continuous with our tradition, the Church’s liturgy has power the capture minds and hearts and transform them.

I starting forming this conviction before I became a Catholic through my experience of Novus Ordo Masses done in an entirely Roman traditional style, closely following the books.

The late Msgr. Richard Schuler would eventually articulate to me in words what I was experiencing in the church. "Just do what the Council asked… do what the Church asks."

Why is worship well executed according to the mind of the Church so effective?

Christ is the true Actor in the sacred action of the Church’s worship. He makes our hands and voices His own as He raises our petitions and offerings to the Father for His glory and our salvation.

Christ’s Holy Church has determined the way by which we may have this encounter with mystery in the liturgy, be taken up in the sacred action.

Although we have the right to our Rite celebrated as the Church desires, liturgy is not about me or us or even you in the pews." - Fr. Zuhlsdorf

"After celebrating Mass facing the Lord I can report these favorable effects from the priest's point of view:

1. I don't have to worry about where to look
2. I don't have to worry about what my face looks like
3. I can weep at the beauty and wonder of it all without concern
4. I can worship more freely and fully
5. I feel more at one with the people of God
6. I am on a journey to God with the people
7. I am not the focus of attention
8. The elevation of the host and the Ecce Agnus Dei have become more of a focus
9. I feel more part of the great tradition
10. I can't see who's not paying attention and feel I have to do something to get their attention back." - Fr. Longenecker

"My rector in Denver, when he was a young priest, was eating dinner at his secretary's house, a widow from Sicily. Thinking he was polite he said, 'If you wish you can call me Michael.' She stopped, put her hand on her hip, and, pointing at him with her wooden spoon, said, 'Don't think I call you Father because I think you're better than me! I call you Father to remind you who you're supposed to be and how you're going to be judged by our Lord!' He passes that lesson on to all his seminarians."- Fr. Andrew

Decalogue Against Temptation

1. Do not forget that the devil exists.
2. Do not forget that the devil is a tempter.
3. Do not forget that the devil is very intelligent and astute.
4. Be vigilant concerning your eyes and heart. Be strong in spirit and virtue.
5. Believe firmly in the victory of Christ over the tempter.
6. Remember that Christ makes you a participant in His victory.
7. Listen carefully to the word of God.
8. Be humble and love mortification.
9. Pray without flagging.
10. Love the Lord your God and offer worship to Him only.